Philippines’ Irish Magno during a Tokyo 2020 Olympics match at the Kokugikan Arena on July 25, 2021. (Photo by Luis ROBAYO / POOL / AFP)
MANILA, Philippines – Irish Magno became the first Filipino boxer to exit the Tokyo Olympics after losing to Jutamas Jitpong of Thailand in the women’s flyweight round of 16 Thursday at Kokugikan Arena.
Magno had trouble cutting the distance against Jitpong, who countered effectively en route to a unanimous decision victory.
Four judges scored it, 30-27, while the other had it, 30-26, for Jitpong, who is seven years younger and two inches taller than the Iloilo native Magno.
Jitpong got back at Magno, who won over the Thai in the semifinals in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.
Three Filipinos are still in contention for the gold medal led by Nesthy Petecio and Eumir Marcial, who had a triumphant debut on Thursday.
Petecio on Wednesday secured a podium finish after entering the women’s featherweight semifinals. She shoots for a place in the finals against European champion Irma Testa of Italy on Saturday.
Marcial, on the other hand, scored a first-round stoppage over Younes Nemouchi of Algeria in the men’s middleweight division where he is tipped to win it all.
The relentless Filipino flyweight Carlo Paalam, meanwhile, battles for a quarterfinals ticket against Mohamed Flissi of Algeria on Saturday.
